Promoter's Bold Prediction Ahead of Grudge Match
Eddie Hearn, the promoter for Conor Benn, has publicly backed his fighter to deliver a career-ending blow to Chris Eubank Jr in their highly-anticipated rematch this Saturday night. The long-time rivals are set to face off once more following their classic encounter in April, which saw Eubank Jr emerge victorious before being hospitalised due to severe dehydration.
Weigh-In Passes Without Incident
The final weigh-in on Friday evening was a surprisingly uneventful affair, with both fighters making weight without the expected verbal sparring. Despite a prolonged face-off, neither boxer exchanged words. Conor Benn tipped the scales at 159.3lbs, while Chris Eubank Jr came in slightly lighter at 159.1lbs. This marked a significant contrast to their first encounter, where Eubank Jr was fined £375,000 for missing the 160lbs limit by a mere 0.05lbs.
Career on the Line as Family Weighs In
Hearn has made a bold prediction despite Benn losing their previous bout. 'I just know that a lot of people around him didn't want him to carry on fighting after the last fight,' Hearn told The Sun. 'And I think this fight will be the same kind of fight in terms of how taxing it'll be, how tough it'll be.' The promoter pointed to Eubank Jr's age as a crucial factor, noting: 'I just think he's coming to the end of his career. What is he, 36? You can't have too many fights like that, so let's see how he performs on Saturday, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was his last fight.'
Eubank Jr will be supported by his father, Chris Eubank Sr, after the pair reconciled before the first fight. Interestingly, Sr has also expressed his desire for his son to retire from boxing, though Jr remains defiant about his future in the sport. 'I am a fighter,' Eubank Jr stated. 'This is my life, this is what I was born to do and I have heard people, even my father, say retirement is on the cards, I should sail off into the sunset. It is just not who I am.'
The 36-year-old fighter elaborated on his motivation, saying: 'As long as I have that fire in me to keep getting in the ring, keep getting in the gym, waking up early, I love the lifestyle. I love who I am as a fighter and the way it makes me feel, so that's all it is. Testing myself, giving the fans what they want to see and pushing myself as far as I can go. That's the motivation.'
The same strict weight conditions that applied to their first bout have been enforced for this rematch, which takes place at Tottenham Stadium on Saturday night, setting the stage for what promises to be another physically demanding encounter between two of British boxing's biggest names.
